Tips for Chicken

How to Store Chicken

How to Freeze Chicken

How to Thaw Chicken

Tip

How to Store Chicken

Raw or cooked chicken can be stored in a refrigerator for a few days, though it’s important to prevent raw chicken juices from leaking and contaminating other foods. Ensure that chicken remains in its original packaging (which should be vacuum-sealed or tightly-wrapped) until it is ready to be cooked.

How to Freeze Chicken

While freezing will make your chicken less tender and juicy, it is the perfect way to store the family-sized pack you bought at Costco last weekend. Remove the chicken from its original packaging and rewrap it tightly using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Double wrap if you are planning to store the chicken for more than two months. Ground chicken can last up to three months in the freezer, while chicken pieces can last up to nine.

How to Thaw Chicken

You should never thaw chicken at room temperature, as it is highly susceptible to bacteria growth. Frozen chicken should either be thawed in the microwave, in the refrigerator, or in cold water (which should be changed every 30 minutes).

In this adaptation of a recipe from Martha Stewart, a cooked chicken (either home-roasted or scored from the deli case of your local market) forms the basis of a deep-tasting gumbo you can have on the table in 40 minutes. The only real cooking involved is to make a golden roux from vegetable oil and flour. Once you’ve done that, it’s a matter of softening some onion and bell peppers, simmering andouille sausage and frozen okra, and warming up the shredded chicken.

Tips for Chicken

Tip

How to Store Chicken

Raw or cooked chicken can be stored in a refrigerator for a few days, though it’s important to prevent raw chicken juices from leaking and contaminating other foods. Ensure that chicken remains in its original packaging (which should be vacuum-sealed or tightly-wrapped) until it is ready to be cooked.

Read More

1 of 3

Next: How to Freeze Chicken

Tip

How to Freeze Chicken

While freezing will make your chicken less tender and juicy, it is the perfect way to store the family-sized pack you bought at Costco last weekend. Remove the chicken from its original packaging and rewrap it tightly using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Double wrap if you are planning to store the chicken for more than two months. Ground chicken can last up to three months in the freezer, while chicken pieces can last up to nine.

Read More

2 of 3

Next: How to Thaw Chicken

Tip

How to Thaw Chicken

You should never thaw chicken at room temperature, as it is highly susceptible to bacteria growth. Frozen chicken should either be thawed in the microwave, in the refrigerator, or in cold water (which should be changed every 30 minutes).

Read More

3 of 3

Next: How to Store Chicken

Instructions

1Heat the oil in a large, shallow, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until this mixture (called a roux) is smooth and turns a medium gold in color, about 5 to 7 minutes.

2Raise the heat to medium and stir in the bell peppers, onion, garlic, and oregano. Season with a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the peppers have softened, about 10 to 12 minutes.

3Add the water, okra, and sausage and raise the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil, stir in the shredded chicken, and season with black pepper. Warm the chicken thoroughly, about 2 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into warmed bowls, sprinkle with the green onions, and serve with cornbread.

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